Fun and humor were the name of the game at Saturday's Ionia Awards event, where hundreds of Ionia County members joined together to celebrate the community's citizens and businesses.

Emcee Rodney Hensley, with the help of his sons and bodyguards Zane and Zakk, and Sam Eppler as a make-shift teleprompter, made sure the audience was entertained with jokes, dances and a slide show of humorous pictures during visits of award nominees. Hensley's wife Mindy also joined the fun with singing a brief song about some of the award nominees.

"The show was well-received thanks to Mindy Hensley Productions," said Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tina Conner Wellman.

This year, the Ionia County Citizen of the Year award was given to Vicki Kennedy, who owns Promo Print and Stitches 2, assists with Friends of Bertha Brock Park and the Ionia Free Fair and hosts a winter coat drive for people in need.

"I'm just thrilled," said Kennedy about winning the award, adding she was "speechless" when her name was announced.

She said she was happy to have her family members in attendance and for them to see what community really is all about. She added she appreciated the recognition for her efforts and was not expecting to receive the award among fellow nominees Chris Flanders and SSgt. David Reed of the United States Marines.

"I thought I was up there with excellent company," Kennedy added.

She said the award helps fuel her desire to fill the needs she sees in the area.

Other winners include Olivera's for "Best Business to Watch," Renee Odette for the "Ionia Area Ambassador of the Year," S&P Auto Body for "Most Promising New Business," Sparrow Ionia Hospital for the "Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year" and Carol Beck Blundy for the "Ionia County Business Woman of the Year." Awards were also handed out for "Putting Ionia on the Map," "Business Milestones" and "Business Refurbishment."

"Everyone who walked the stage and attended deserved to be celebrated," Conner Wellman said. "It was difficult to define the winners of each category."

She added she has received positive feedback from the community about the event.

"It was a labor of love and pride which would not have been possible without the many volunteer hours leading up to the event," Conner Wellman said.